Trunk lock



K. A. FRANZEN June 15, 1937. TRUNK LOCK Filed May 9, 1935 INVENTOR Karl Ausus? Franzen Hls ATTORNEY Registered I June 15, 1937* PATENT OFFICE TRUNK LOCK Karl August Franzen, Solingen, Germany Application May 9, 1935, Serial No. 20,558 In Germany July 11, 1934 18 Claims.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to trunk locks.

The object of this invention is to provide a trunk lock which is an improvement over known constructions of the type which require no special hand manipulation of the hasp when the trunk is locked.

Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a lock of this kind which provides the additional advantage that upon releasing the locking parts from engagement with one another the lid is adapted immediately to fly open or to move upward under the action of the lock parts and without manual assistance.

A trunk lock constructed in accordance with the invention is simple and efiicient in its op- Figure 3 is a front elevation of the lock shown in Figures 1 and 2 the lock being free of the trunk, open or released, and with the cover plate of one part of the lock removed,

Figure 4 shows the lock parts illustrated in Figure 3 in the closed or latched position,

Figure 5 is a section on line VIVI Figure 4, Figure 6 shows the same look as Figures 1 to 5 with its parts in a positively locked position. Thelock shown inthe drawing comprises a part 2 secured to the front vertical wall of a The part 2 comprises trunk receptacle part- I.

a base plate 3 from which projects perpendicularly a shouldered key pin I5, which passes through a central hole I4 in a rotatable disc or latch plate I3 having a peripheral flange or rim I1 perpendicular to its main part. The flange IT has a cut away part or gap I8. The latch plate also has a radially extending handle lever I-I formed integrally with the plate as shown in the drawing. Furthermore the centre part of the latch plate is recessed inwardly also as shown.

In the latch plate I3 is formed, on a chord of the plate, a segmentally disposed slot I9 in which' is mounted, on its side, a U shaped spring closely fitting into the slot, as shown in the drawing.

The two arms of the spring are marked 20 and 2| respectively and the arm 20 is longer than the arm 2| and is downturned or inturned at 22, whilst the arm 2| has a notch 23 spaced from its free end and in which notch may engage the, ward of a key pushed on to the key pin I5.

The slot I9 in the latch plate has an extension 24 into which the part 22 of the U spring may pass to prevent the upper arm 20 of the spring flexing on attempted rotation of the latch plate I3. A small projection 3| extends into the slot, and is arranged to act as an abutment for the outer'end of the part 2| of the U-spring.

. The base plate 3 has, as shown, a projection or abutment 25 the front end of which isrounded off as at 30 and the end 22 of the U spring is adapted to engage under this projection (as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6) in certain positions of the latch plate I3. Engagement and disengagement of the spring arm 20 with the abutment 25 is facilitated by the curved part -30 of the latter and the curved end 22 of the spring.

The lock includes a further part 5 (hereinafter called the catch plate) secured to the frontvertical flange of the lid 4 of the trunk. The part 5 is provided with a nose 5 adapted, when the latch plate I3 is in the position shown in Figure 3 and when the lid 4 is being closed, to pass into the gap I8 in the rim I I of the latch plate I3 and which gap corresponds in width to' the nose 5 The nose 5 is provided with a catch or-projection 6 behind or over which the part I1 of the latch plate rim I1 is adapted to engage to latch the two lock parts 2 and 5 together.

A cover or shield 8 is provided over the latch plate I3 and this cover or shield has a key-hole 9, and alsohas an entrance opening I at its upper part through which the nose 5 may pass. The cover or shield has in addition a slot III in which is movable the handle lever I I of the latch plate.

The operation of the lock described above is as follows:- v l 5 Assuming parts to be in the positions indicated in Figure 3, on closing the lid 4 of the trunk the nose 5 of the lock part 5 passes through (in the'direction of arrow 21) the entrance 1 of the cover or shield and then through the gap I8 of the rim "of the latch plate I3, I

As the lid 4 is pressed home the lower part of the nose 5 bears and presses on the free end of arm 20 of the U spring and this presses the arm 20 towards the arm 2| and compresses the spring and also depresses the end 22' of arm 20 relative to the abutment 25 on the baseplate 3. v The U shaped spring is so disposed that when the catch' or projection 6 has passed inwardly beyond the rim I! the pressure now on the spring causes this to force the latch plate l3 to swing about the key pinfl5 in the direction of arrow 28 and so to cause the part il of the latch plate rim I! to engage behind or over the catch or projection 6 so automatically latching the lock parts 2 and Stogether.

As this operation occurs the end 22 of the U spring arm 20 passes under the abutment and into the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5. In this. position the latch. plate isstable and will remain so unless pressure is applied to the handle II in the direction of arrow i2. If this latter pressure is applied to the handle ii the latch plate rotates about-the key'pin l5 and the arm 20 of the U springis forced again towards the arm 2|. At the same time the end 22 of the spring arm 20 slides along the under side of the abutment 25 and in due course is released by the abutment at just about the time the rim I! of the latch plate disengages the catch or projection 6 of the nose 5 When these things occur the arms of the U spring-fly open to their normal relative positions and so cause the lock parts 2 and 5 to separate, the part 5 moving in the direction of arrow 26.

If it is desired positively to lock the trunk then a key is pushed on to the key pin l5 and not move either towards or away from the arm the key ward is engaged in the notch 23 of the U spring arm 2|. Insertion of the key raises the extremity of the spring arm 2| above the small projection 3i and frees the Uspring so that on rotation of the key ina clockwise direction the spring is bodily slidden along the slot [9 in the direction of arrow 29 to bring the end 22 of the spring arm 20 into the extension 24 of the slot IS in which position the spring arm 20 can- 2I, whereby the latch plate I3 is locked against rotation relative to the baseplate 3.

When the lock parts are in the position shown in Figure 3 the latch plate is retained against rotation by the engagement of the handle ll against the end of its slot in the shield or cover 8 and by the engagement of the U spring end 22 with the abutment 25;- The latch is however automatically released on depression of the spring arm 20 by the nose 5 What I claim is:

1. A look for trunks or the like comprising a base plate for attachment to one of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a latch member carried by the base plate and turnable effect the rotation of the latter on its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the catch engaging member.

2, A look for trunks or the like comprising twov parts, one for-attachment to thetrunk lid and the other for attachment to the'receptacle part of the trunk, these look parts being adapted to be brought together when the lid is'closed, a

catch on one lock part, amovable latch member on the other lock part and adapted automatically to engage the said .catch when in looking relation with the latter, and a U shaped spring associated with the latch member and located in the path of movement of the catch plate, said catch plate being adapted to contact with the resilient arm during the closing movement of the lock at such a point as to apply to the latch member a turning moment, thereby automatically to effect the rotation of the latter on its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the catch engaging member.

3. A look for trunks and the like comprising two parts, one for attachment to the lid and one for' attachment to the receptacle part of the trunk or the like, the one lock part including a .said latch plate flange when the latch plate is in a released or open position, a catch on said nose part which said flange on the latch plate is adapted to engage when rotated to a locked position, and a spring member carried by the latch plate and located in the path of movement of the catch plate, said catch plate being adapted to contact with the resilient'arm during the closing movement of the look at such a point as to apply to the latch member a turning moment, thereby. automatically to effect the rotation of the latter on ,its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the'catch engaging member.

4. A lock for trunks or, the like comprising a base plate for attachment to one of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a latch member carried by the base plate and turnable about an axis perpendicular to the latter, a catch'plate for attachment to the other of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a catch on said catch plate, a catch engaging part on said latch member, and a spring comprising a length of spring metal of U form and carried by said latch member, said spring being arranged with the lengths, of said arms along chords of imaginary circles in a plane parallel to said base plateand having its centre point coincident with the axis about which said latch'member is turnable, and having a portion thereof lying at one side of said center point, and said catch plate being adapted, on closing the trunk or the like, to approach said latch member in a direction transverse to the'axis of rotation of the latter, and finally to assume a position in which said catch and the catch engaging member may engage, the catch plate being also adapted, in being brought to position in engagement with said portion, to compress said spring, and the latter being adapted, when so 7 compressed, to cause rotation of said latch plate about its axis for interengaging the catch and the catch engaging part of the latch.

5. A lock for trunks or the like comprising a base plate for attachment to one of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a latch member carried by the base plate and turnable about an axis perpendicular to the latter, a catch plate for attachment to the other of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a catch on said catch plate, a catch engaging part on said latch member, a spring of U form carried by said latch member located in the path of movement of the catch plate, said catch plate being adapted to contact with the resilient arm during the closing movement of the lock at such a point as to applyto the latch member a turning moment, thereby automatically to effect the rotation of the latter on its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the catch engaging member, and the spring being mounted movably on said latchmember and adapted to be slidden I said base plate, a pin perpendicular to said base plate, said latch plate being rotatably mounted upon said pin, a catch plate for attachment to.

said latch plate and having a gap to admit en-f trance of said nose part within the flange of the latch plate, said latch plate having a slot provided with a constricted extensionat one end,

said latch plate having a small projection extending into the lower part of said slot, a handle lever on said latch plate, an abutment on said base plate, a U shaped plate spring slidingly disposed in said .slot in said latch plate, the upper arm of said plate spring being extended beyond the end ofthe other arm and the extended end of said upper arm being bent inwardly toward the lower arm of the spring, said lower armbeing provided with a notch adapted to be engaged by inserted key ward and its' extremity being adapted to abut against said small projection in the lower part of the slot, 2. cover or shield for said latch plate said cover or shield having an opening for admission of saidkey ward and having an opening at the part thereof nearest to the catch plate and also a gap through which said handle lever passes, substantially as described.

'7. A look for trunks or the like comprising a base plate for attachment to one of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a pivot pin projecting perpendicularly from said base plate, a latch plate of peripherally flanged form rotatably mounted on said pin, the flange of the latch plate having a gap, a catch plate for attachment to'the other of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a catch on said catch plate,

adapted to be engaged by said latch plate .flange, means for manually moving said latch plate tothe release position, a U shaped plate spring mounted on said latch plate and having one arm adapted to be engaged by said cat'chplate when the trunk or the like is being closed, and

an abutment on said base plate beneath which one arm of said spring is adapted to slip when the trunk or the like is being closed, substantially as described,

8. A lock for a trunk or the like according to claim 7 wherein said latch plate is a disc mounted centrally on said pivot pin and has its peripheral flange perpendicular to its main plane, and said means for manually moving said latch plate con-- mounted said U shaped plate spring, the latter projecting laterally from one surface of said disc and having one arm bearing on the bottom of said recess and the other adapted to engage under said abutment on the base platev when the disc is in the latching position.

10. A lock for a trunk or the like according to claim 7 wherein said latch plate comprises a disc-having a segmentally disposed slot in-which is mounted slidably said U shaped plate spring, the latter projecting laterally from one surface of said disc and having one arm bearing on the bottom of said recess and the other adapted to engage under said abutment on the base plate when the disc is in theiatching position, the abutment engaging arm of said spring being longerthan the other arm and being adapted on endwise sliding of the spring relative to the latch plate, to engage in a narrow extension of the slot in the latch-plate substantially as described.

-11. A lock for trunks or the like comprising a base plate ,for attachment to one of the relatively movable parts of the trunk or the like, a latch plate of flanged disc form mounted rot atably on said base plate, the flange of said latch plate having a gap, and the disc having a segmentally disposed slot, a' U shaped plate spring mounted in said slot for endwise movement and having one arm longer than the other, the free end of said arm lying at one side of a radius extending from the center of rotation of the latch member the longer arm being bent inwardly towards the other arm at its free end, said plate spring projecting laterally from the said disc, an abutment on said base plate under which the longer arm of the U spring is adapted to slip when the latch plate is moved into the locking position said abutment having a curved forward surface for engagement with said longer arm of the spring, a catch plate for attachment to the other of the relatively movable parts of the'trunk or the like, a projection on said catch plate over which said latch plate flange is adapted to engage after the projection has been passed through the gap in the flange of the latch plate to the interior thereof, and said catch plate having a nose adapted as it is moved towards said latch plate to engage and depress the longer arm of said U shaped spring, substantially as and for the purposes specifled.

12. A lock for trunks or the like comprising a base plate for attachment to one of the movable parts of the trunk or the like, a latch member, means for mounting said latch member romember, a resilient arm carried by said latch member, and said arm having a bent end portion located in the path of movement of the catch plate, said catch plate being adapted to'contact with the resilient arm during the closing movement of the lock at such a point as to apply to the latch member a turning moment, thereby automatically to eifect the rotation of the latter on its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the catch engaging member.

13. A lock for trunks or the like comprising a part for attachment to one of the movable parts of the trunk, a part for attachment to the other movable part of the trunk, a catch on one lock part, a rotary catch engaging member on the other lock part adapted for engagement with said catch in the locking position, a U-shaped spring carried by said catch engaging member and adapted to be compressed by the direct action of said .first named lock part, to tension the'said spring by imparting an angular movement thereto, the energy expended in imparting such angular movement to the spring serving to convert the compression of said U-shaped spring into a rotational movement of the catch engaging memberand a consequent engagement of the latter 'with the catch.

' ed for engagement with the flange of said latch member in the locked position, a spring member carried by the latch member and located in the path of movementof the catch plate, said catch plate being adapted to contact with the resilient.

arm during the closing movement of the lock at such a point as to apply to the latch member a turning moment, thereby automatically to effect the rotation of the latter on its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the catch engaging member.

15. A lock for trunks or the like comprising a base plate for attachment to one of the movable parts of theti'unk or the like, a latch member, means for mounting said latch member rotatably upon said base plate, a catch platefor attachment to the other of the movable parts of the trunk or the like, a catch on said catch plate, a catch engaging member on said latch member, a U-shaped spring carried by said latch member and located in the path oi. movement of the catch plate, said catch plate being adapted to contact with the resilient arm during the closing movement of the lock at such a point as'to apply tothe latch member a turning moment, thereby automatically to efiect the rotation of the latter on its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the catch engaging member.

16. A lock for trunks or the like comprising a base plate for attachment to one of the movable parts of the trunk or the like, a pivotpin projecting perpendicularly from said base plate, a latch plate having a peripheral gapped flange and rotatably mounted on said pin, a catch plate for attachment to the other of the movable parts of the trunk or the like, a catch on said catch plate adapted for engagement with the peripheral flange on said latch plate, a U'-shaped plate spring mounted'on said latch plate located in the path ofmovement of the catch plate, said'catch plate being adapted to contact with the resilient arm during the closing movement of the lock at such a point as' to apply to the latch member a turning moment, thereby automatically to efiect therotation of the latter on its axis for automatically interengaging the catch and the catch engaging member.

17. A look for trunks or the like according to claim 16, characterized in that the U-shaped spring is mounted in a slot in said latch plate, said slot having an extension of "reduced width, and that the U-shaped spring is adapted for displacement relatively to the latch plate, so that one extremity of the springv may be accommodated in said slot extension.

18. A look for trunks or the like according to claim 1 -1 wherein said slot has a narrow extension and the shorter arm of said U-shaped spring is'provided with means to abut a key ward, the

longer arm of said spring adaptedto slip when the latch plate is moved into locking position, and,

. 0n the movement ofthe spring in one endwise direction, to engage in said narrow extension of the said slot inthe latch plate, substantially as described.

KARL AUGUST FRANZEN. 

